Hip-hop artist faces charges for road rage scuffle

LOS ANGELES 
A Swedish hip-hop artist and songwriter has been arrested for a road-rage confrontation on a Hollywood street that left a pedestrian dead, authorities said.

David Moses Jassy, a 34-year-old musician also known as Dave Monopoly who has co-written songs for "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale, was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on charges of assault, battery and leaving the scene of a deadly accident.

Prosectuors said John Osnes, a 55-year-old local jazz pianist, slapped Jassy's rented sport utility vehicle Sunday when it crept into his crosswalk.

Jassy then got out of his car, punched Osnes in the face then kicked him in the head when Osnes bent over to pick up his glasses, prosecutors alleged in a written statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Jassy broke free of several people trying to restrain him, got back behind the wheel of the SUV, and ran over Osnes as he tried to flee.

Osnes, who prosecutors called a "pedestrian rights activist," died at a hospital later Sunday.

Jassy was arrested Monday after authorities traced him through the rental vehicle's license plate.

Jassy was being held on $1 million bail. He faced a judge Tuesday, but his arraignment was delayed a day after he requested a Swedish interpreter.

He was being represented by attorneys from the Public Defender's Office, who did not immediately return an after-hours phone call Wednesday morning requesting comment.